Sequential Compatibility Effects and Cognitive Control: Does Conflict Really Matter?

Although it is widely accepted that control mechanisms are necessary for human behavior to be adapted, very little is known about how such mechanisms are recruited. A suggestion to fill the gap was put forward by M. M. Botvinick, T. S. Braver, C. S. Carter, D. M. Barch, and J. D. Cohen (2001), who proposed the conflict-loop theory. This theory has been successful in accounting for the reduction of compatibility effects after an incompatible trial: The level of conflict being, on average, higher during an incompatible trial, more control occurs after such a trial. The authors have tested this prediction by sorting the trials on the basis of amount of conflict (quantified by the electromyographic activity) they presented. A reduction of the compatibility effect was observed after incompatible trials, but it was independent of the level of conflict on previous trials, suggesting that the conflict does not trigger changes in executive control. Consequences for the conflict monitoring model are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Methodology for the reliability evaluation of a passive system and its integration into a Probabilistic Safety Assessment

A methodology has been developed to evaluate the reliability of passive systems characterised by a moving fluid and whose operation is based on thermal–hydraulic (T-H) principles. The methodology includes:

• identification and quantification of the sources of uncertainties and determination of the important variables;

• propagation of the uncertainties through T-H models and assessment of T-H passive system unreliability;

• introduction of passive system unreliability in the accident sequence analysis.

Each step of the methodology is described and commented and a diagram of the methodology is presented. An example of passive system is presented with the aim to illustrate the possibilities of the methodology. This example is the Residual Passive heat Removal system on the Primary circuit (RP2), an innovating system supposed to be implemented on a 900 MWe Pressurized Water Reactor.     

A Narrowing-based Instantiation Rule for Rewriting-based Fold/Unfold Transformations

In this paper we show how to transfer some developments done in the field of functionallogic programming (FLP) to a pure functional setting (FP). More exactly, we propose a complete fold/unfold based transformation system for optimizing lazy functional programs. Our main contribution is the definition of a safe instantiation rule which is used to enable effective unfolding steps based on rewriting. Since instantiation has been traditionally considered problematic in FP, we take advantage of previous experiences in the more general setting of FLP where instantiation is naturally embedded into an unfolding rule based on narrowing. Inspired by the so called needed narrowing strategy, our instantiation rule inherits the best properties of this refinement of narrowing. Our proposal optimizes previous approaches (that require more transformation effort) defined in the specialized literature of pure FP by anticipating bindings on unifiers used to instantiate a given program rule and by generating redexes at different positions on instantiated rules in order to enable subsequent unfolding steps. As a consequence, our correct/complete technique avoids redundant rules and preserves the natural structure of programs.     

Stochastic stabilization of differential systems with general decay rate

Some sufficient conditions concerning stability of solutions of stochastic differential evolution equations with general decay rate are first proved. Then, these results are interpreted as suitable stabilization ones for deterministic and stochastic systems. Also, they permit us to construct appropriate linear stabilizers in some particular situations.     

Characterization of cerium and copper species in Cu—Ce—Al oxide systems by temperature programmed reduction and electron paramagnetic resonance

The reducibility of Ce—Al—O and Cu—Ce—Al—O solids is studied by H₂-TPR and EPR in order to identify the different ceria and copper oxide species. The study of Ce—Al—O oxides shows that dispersion of ceria on alumina improves reducibility of ceria bulk and stabilizes surface ceria. Concerning quantitative results, ceria reduction extent is more important for Ce—Al—O oxides than for pure ceria. This result can be related to the dispersion of ceria on alumina which decreases ceria crystallites size and enhances the ceria bulk reduction. For ternary oxides, copper oxide and ceria interact strongly. Introduction of copper facilitated ceria reduction, and quantitatively, the presence of copper favors the total reduction of ceria contrary to Ce—Al—O oxides. When ceria loading is low, two copper species are identified, and are attributed to small clusters and highly dispersed copper oxides. During the reduction of copper species, a partial reduction of ceria is observed. Increasing of copper loading leads to the formation of CuO aggregates.     

Environmental Fatigue and Static Behavior of RC Beams Strengthened with Carbon-Fiber-Reinforced Polymer

Many countries around the world have tremendous needs to repair and strengthen their transportation infrastructure. Almost everywhere, traffic loads have reached levels largely exceeding design expectations. Northern countries also experience severe winter conditions that are combined with an extensive use of deicing salts and accelerate structural deterioration. In Canada, the extent of deterioration has prompted many authorities, including the federal and provincial governments, to investigate the potential use of fiber-reinforced polymer products to extend the life of their existing structures. However, it is widely recognized that the large-scale implementation of these products is often impaired by the lack of data on their durability. This paper presents an experimental project undertaken in order to assess the durability of reinforced concrete beams externally strengthened with two types of carbon-fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP). The beams were first exposed to either wet-dry cycles or continuous immersion in water and then were loaded in fatigue. Finally, they were tested quasi-statically under four-point bending up to failure. The test results presented here provide some insights on the potential long-term performance of CFRP-strengthened beams exposed to severe environmental conditions.     

Thermal mixing between subchannels: measurement method and applications

A new thermal tracing technique is presented for the measurement of enthalpy interchange between connected subchannels in one-phase axial flow. The method is simple and versatile, being capable of implementation on compact and non-homogeneous bundles using water as fluid. To present the technique, measurements of turbulent mixing were performed on a triangular array bundle with a relation of pitch to diameter of 1.33, at Reynolds numbers between 10⁴ and 6.8×10⁴. For this simple arrangement the precision of the method is discussed showing that accuracies better than 10% can be readily achieved. Measurements are also performed in presence of a mixing vane showing another field were the method can be advantageously applied.     

Insights into the Pharmacokinetics and In Vitro Cell-Based Studies of the Imidazoline I2 Receptor Ligand B06

The impact of neurodegenerative diseases (ND) is becoming unbearable for humankind due to their vast prevalence and the lack of efficacious treatments. In this scenario, we focused on imidazoline I₂ receptors (I₂-IR) that are widely distributed in the brain and are altered in patients with brain disorders. We took the challenge of modulating I₂-IR by developing structurally new molecules, in particular, a family of bicyclic α-iminophosphonates, endowed with high affinity and selectivity to these receptors. Treatment of two murine models, one for age-related cognitive decline and the other for Alzheimer’s disease (AD), with representative compound B06 ameliorated their cognitive impairment and improved their behavioural condition. Furthermore, B06 revealed beneficial in vitro ADME-Tox properties. The pharmacokinetics (PK) and metabolic profile are reported to de-risk B06 for progressing in the preclinical development. To further characterize the pharmacological properties of B06, we assessed its neuroprotective properties and beneficial effect in an in vitro model of Parkinson’s disease (PD). B06 rescued the human dopaminergic cell line SH-SY5Y from death after treatment with 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) and showed a crucial anti-inflammatory effect in a cellular model of neuroinflammation. This research reveals B06 as a putative candidate for advancing in the difficult path of drug discovery and supports the modulation of I₂-IR as a fresh approach for the therapy of ND.     

Role of miRNAs in Human T Cell Leukemia Virus Type 1 Induced T Cell Leukemia: A Literature Review and Bioinformatics Approach

Human T cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1) was identified as the first pathogenic human retrovirus and is estimated to infect 5 to 10 million individuals worldwide. Unlike other retroviruses, there is no effective therapy to prevent the onset of the most alarming diseases caused by HTLV-1, and the more severe cases manifest as the malignant phenotype of adult T cell leukemia (ATL). MicroRNA (miRNA) dysfunction is a common feature of leukemogenesis, and it is no different in ATL cases. Therefore, we sought to analyze studies that reported deregulated miRNA expression in HTLV-1 infected cells and patients’ samples to understand how this deregulation could induce malignancy. Through in silico analysis, we identified 12 miRNAs that stood out in the prediction of targets, and we performed functional annotation of the genes linked to these 12 miRNAs that appeared to have a major biological interaction. A total of 90 genes were enriched in 14 KEGG pathways with significant values, including TP53, WNT, MAPK, TGF-β, and Ras signaling pathways. These miRNAs and gene interactions are discussed in further detail for elucidation of how they may act as probable drivers for ATL onset, and while our data provide solid starting points for comprehension of miRNAs’ roles in HTLV-1 infection, continuous effort in oncologic research is still needed to improve our understanding of HTLV-1 induced leukemia.